A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Impacts of adverse weather on Arctic road transport
AbstractArctic regions are geographically peripheral and characterized by cold climate, constantly changing weather conditions and strong seasonal variations. This article examines variations in road traffic volume due to adverse weather in an arctic region, a topic that has received little attention in the transportation literature. The subject of the case study is northern Norway's Saltfjellet mountain pass, which is part of European Highway 6 (Ev6). A succinct econometric structural equation model was used to test hypotheses regarding the impacts of fluctuations in temperature, precipitation and wind speed on passenger and freight traffic volumes. The findings indicate that there was some reduction in traffic volume during adverse weather, particularly with respect to passenger traffic. However, the day-to-day variations in traffic volumes were relatively low at the studied section of road, although it is known that generalized transport costs increase significantly in adverse weather due to delays related to poor driving conditions and closed roads. The studied region is rural with limited access to alternative routes or transport modes, thus making this portion of the road particularly important for the communities in the region. Hence, the road users have few other options than using this high-cost road in order to maintain their activities. The use of standardized parameters in transport models to predict the effect of adverse weather on traffic volume, would not be appropriate in the studied context. However, it is recommended that the benefits of reducing the extra costs that adverse weather impose on traffic are estimated and included in road-project assessment tools to capture the burden and strain imposed on road users. This to ensure that appropriate decisions are made regarding the development and improvement of transportation facilities, particularly in rural areas.
HighlightsQuantifies, using structural equation modelling, how weather impacts traffic volumeDifferentiates between freight and passenger traffic in a rural arctic contextReveals low day-to-day variations in traffic volume due to adverse weatherSuggests incorporating the impact of weather on traffic in transport modelsSuggests extensions of the current cost-benefit analyses tool
Impacts of adverse weather on Arctic road transport
AbstractArctic regions are geographically peripheral and characterized by cold climate, constantly changing weather conditions and strong seasonal variations. This article examines variations in road traffic volume due to adverse weather in an arctic region, a topic that has received little attention in the transportation literature. The subject of the case study is northern Norway's Saltfjellet mountain pass, which is part of European Highway 6 (Ev6). A succinct econometric structural equation model was used to test hypotheses regarding the impacts of fluctuations in temperature, precipitation and wind speed on passenger and freight traffic volumes. The findings indicate that there was some reduction in traffic volume during adverse weather, particularly with respect to passenger traffic. However, the day-to-day variations in traffic volumes were relatively low at the studied section of road, although it is known that generalized transport costs increase significantly in adverse weather due to delays related to poor driving conditions and closed roads. The studied region is rural with limited access to alternative routes or transport modes, thus making this portion of the road particularly important for the communities in the region. Hence, the road users have few other options than using this high-cost road in order to maintain their activities. The use of standardized parameters in transport models to predict the effect of adverse weather on traffic volume, would not be appropriate in the studied context. However, it is recommended that the benefits of reducing the extra costs that adverse weather impose on traffic are estimated and included in road-project assessment tools to capture the burden and strain imposed on road users. This to ensure that appropriate decisions are made regarding the development and improvement of transportation facilities, particularly in rural areas.
HighlightsQuantifies, using structural equation modelling, how weather impacts traffic volumeDifferentiates between freight and passenger traffic in a rural arctic contextReveals low day-to-day variations in traffic volume due to adverse weatherSuggests incorporating the impact of weather on traffic in transport modelsSuggests extensions of the current cost-benefit analyses tool
Impacts of adverse weather on Arctic road transport
Bardal, Kjersti Granås (author)
Journal of Transport Geography ; 59 ; 49-58
2017-01-24
10 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
Impacts of adverse weather on Arctic road transport
| Online Contents | 2017
Capacity Reliability of Road Network under Adverse Weather Conditions Based on Fuzzy Theory
| British Library Conference Proceedings | 2009
Specifying concrete for adverse weather
British Library Online Contents | 1995
Specifying concrete for adverse weather
Online Contents | 1995